Church of Scientology moves regional headquarters to Quincy for now

QUINCY – The Church of Scientology of Boston has moved the center of its New England operations to a 14,400-square-foot space in Quincy Center.

The church signed a two-year lease for space at 1515 Hancock St., officials from the church’s headquarters in Los Angeles confirmed Tuesday night.

“The Church is fully up and running at this location,” church spokeswoman Linda Wieland stated in an email. “This is a temporary location while we complete the planning and renovations of our future permanent home in the former Alexandra Hotel in Boston’s South End.”

The church’s offices, ministry and humanitarian programs are now housed on Hancock Street, Wieland said.

The Church of Scientology of Boston counts about 30,000 people across New England as its parishioners.

A controversial religion, the Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. It claims millions of members worldwide, including celebrity devotees Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Scientology has faced allegations that it is a dangerous cult that brainwashes its followers and collects their assets. Its leaders deny that.

The church relocated to Quincy from Beacon Street in Boston’s Back Bay. It plans to renovate a dilapidated landmark building on Washington Street in the South End of Boston into a 45,000-square-foot permanent headquarters, according to plans filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The Hancock Street building that will temporarily house the Scientology church is owned by Quince Limited Partnership, but it is about to be sold.

Earl Cate, the president of Quince, said Tuesday that his building is under agreement to be sold, but a closing date has not been set.

The 4-story building, which was once the location of Remick’s department store, is valued at $12.5 million by Quincy assessors.

In January, the Quince real estate company was locked in a legal dispute with the principal developer behind the $1.6 billion downtown redevelopment project, Street-Works.

Street-Works was going to buy the building for $12.9 million, but earlier this year, Mayor Thomas Koch cut ties with Street-Works, putting on hold the plans to create 3.5 million square feet of new residential, retail, office, entertainment and educational space by 2020.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Reach Chris Burrell at cburrell@ledger.com or follow on Twitter @Burrell_Ledger.